new ecology/environment books

What's the newest and latest that you're reading?

I just read and reviewed Wildebeest in a Rainstorm which profiled a number of conservationists, explorers, and outdoor athletes, which I received as an Early Reviewer.

And what did you think of it?

I really liked Waiting for Coyotes Call: an Eco-memoir from the Missouri River Bluff, another ER title. I've nearly worked my way to the end of Stephen Pyne's Vestal Fires, lots of interesting ideas and erudite writing if you can sustain your attention through his highly detailed account.

Wow, I've never come across anyone who has read Vestal Fire. It's a GREAT work with major implications for conservation, but I very rarely see it cited anywhere. I haven't read it all and should get back to it - thanks for reminding me.

> 2 My review is posted here - http://tinyurl.com/c8qtow - it's a collection of old articles he's written, some better than others...

Hello, I haven't read it yet, but a novel has just been published that may interest group members.
The Earth Party: Love and Revolution at a Time of Climate Change by George Marshall
ISBN: 1906710112

This book does have a Librarything page but doesn't yet link with the authors page listing his other books such as Carbon Detox

Am most of the way through A fish caught in time about the discovery of the coelacanth, a living fossil. More info at www.dinofish.com, apparently. It's a lively tale told well and a quick read.

ETA that is not a new book, just new to me.

I recently read Dave Dempsey's 2010 offering, Superior Shores: A Novel of Conservation. I've read a couple of his nonfiction books, and, having worked with him on Great Lakes issues, I was curious as to how he would handle a romance between a developer and an environmentalist--and who-wins. The romance kept my attention, but I enjoyed best how he brought into play all the actors one might see in a development decision--developer and environmentalists, "treehuggers" and sportsmen, locals and "city folk", and village council--as well as a full complement of feints and ploys. A fun read.

In March, I met Judith S Weiss at a regional estuaries meeting where I was excited to get her new book Salt marshes: A natural and unnatural history and I even got it signed. It looks pretty nice though the photos are in b/w.

Best new environmental book I've read lately is Nevada Barr's thriller Winter Study set on Isle Royale. You get an accurate field-researched tutorial on wolf/moose interplay on the island while being entertained.

I just finished The Hidden Forest, a terrific primer on non-vascular plants and nitrogen fixation, timber politics, forestry economics, habitat fragmentation short-term academic research, the Spotted Owl controversy, salmon fisheries, complexities of ecosystems, and more.

Hum. The touchstone goes to a children's book from Australia. Doesn't sound like the book you describe. Author?

11> This would be my guess:

The Hidden Forest

Please, everyone, check your touchstones! The author is listed when you touchstone, it only takes one second to glance over and make sure it's okay.

I recently finished Eaarth. It rambled a bit, especially in the last chapter, but was fairly good, overall.

Just got a copy of Anthill for my upcoming birthday. Looking forward to it!

The Ptarmigan's Dilemma was recommended to me in a conversation at the International Congress for Conservation Biology. I am still reading it but have found it to be an easy, interesting read laden with insight and fresh information that would appeal to both layman and academic readers.

It would make an excellent capstone read for fourth-year biology students to connect all the dots and contextualize the concepts and ideas that they have spent most of their undergraduate careers studying in static little boxes, as well as a remedy for the effects of formal education to bring them back to curiosity and the bigger picture of the organization of life.

>15 wingbeat:. I've added this one to my wishlist.

>WildMaggie

I'm glad to hear, and hope you enjoy it. The Theberges have done a rather good job in making it a pleasure to read, at least for me.

Unrelatedly, I see from your LT Author page you are deeply involved with urban wildlife. You might be interested in Coyotes Still Sing in my Valley which was published not too long ago. It is not widely available and seems to have been distributed through academic and personal rather than commercial channels. (I came across mine working on research projects on urban wildlife and coyote-human interactions. I personally know one of the chapter authors; If you would really like a copy but can't get it, I may be able to help.)

>wingbeat, thanks for the recommendation. I've added that one to my wishlist, too.